“Plus ca change, plus c’est la même chose” or “the more things change, the more they stay the same”, is a proverb usually attributed to the French critic, journalist, and novelist Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, (1808-1890) who used it in 1849.
Then perhaps Karr had come to this conclusion, having read Ecclesiastes (Ch. 1-Verses. 9-10-11), latter literature contained in the Christian Old Testament.
(9) “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”. (10)Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new?It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time“. (11)“No one remembers the former generations, and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them”.
So what brought all this on I hear you ask?
L-R: (1) Small, one handed, Gardener’s lawn ‘Daisy Grubber‘. (2)Head only of a large 17th century, two handed, farm labourer’s ‘Grubber’.
I was looking at some gardening equipment on line; in search of something to remove unwanted growth from my small grass lawn area, when I spotted a small hand held ‘Gardener’s Daisy Grubber’.
This small ‘Daisy Grubber’ reminded me of a blacksmith made, spade size, Grubber, used back in the 17th/18th/19th century, also used to remove stubborn, deep-rooted, Thistle and Dock roots from corn fields, prior to harvesting. The immediate removal, back then, ensured that the seeds of both weeds would not end up amongst oat and barley seed, being trashed and due for sowing the following spring.
This spade size, ancient Grubber would take on an alternative use during the middle of the 19th century; becoming useful to those employed by Irish landlords and their agents, to assist in evicting tenants.
A forced Irish eviction using a battering ram, taking place in the mid-19th century, being strongly defended by the tenants residing within.
Those tenants either failing to pay or unable to pay their rent were evicted, often by force, from their homes. This same agricultural Grubber, whose teeth resemble a modern day claw hammer, was used to remove nails/spikes from roof timbers. Once the nails/spikes were removed/drawn, the thatched roof on such dwellings could be easily collapsed; ensuring that the evicted tenants could not return to seek shelter over future nights.
Spotted here in Thurles on Monday last, the first Cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae) of the season. Native to Ireland and indeed Europe, Cinnabar moths are daytime-flying moths, with distinctive pinkish-red and black wings.
Cinnabar moths measure about 20mm (0.79in) in length with a wingspan of some 32–42mm (1.3–1.7in) and acquires its named from the red mineral Cinnabar, because of the red patches on its predominantly black wings.
Interesting to note that this moth has been introduced into New Zealand, Australia and North America to control Ragwort (latter poisonous to horses and other livestock), on which its larvae feed. This Ragwort diet, eaten by their pale yellow and black striped larvae, leaves them unpalatable to their would-be predators. Females can lay up to 300 eggs, in batches of 30 to 60 on the underside of Ragwort leaves and their caterpillars being voracious eaters; a large population can strip entire patches of ragwort clean, within a very short period of time.
Though not considered very rare in Ireland, the Cinnabar moth remains, annually, in grave danger due to the Noxious Weeds Act of 1936, which makes it an offence for the owner or occupier of lands not to prevent the growth and spread of Ragwort. In 2020, some 52 “notices to destroy” were issued to land owners, by the Department of Agriculture, for the presence of Ragwort being on their property and in 2021, some 22 such notices were also issued. Many caterpillars will starve if their food runs out before they are fully grown, so as competition intensifies the caterpillars become more aggressive and may even turn to cannibalism in their quest for calories.
“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” – Greek Proverb.
It was great to see, once again, biodiversity being restored to the area of the Thurles Double Ditch, latter situated beside Dun Muileann Housing Estate, on Mill Road, in Thurles yesterday and sponsored by Allied Irish Banks(AIB).
Tree planters pictured above are students from Thurles Ursuline Convent Secondary School with Ms Anne Marie Fleming,(Tipperary County Council Biodiversity Officer)and Mr John Lanigan(Refresh Thurles).
Tree planters pictured above are students from Thurles Presentation Convent Secondary School with MrRichard Mulcahy (Co-founder of the 100MT Project initiative)
So, how important was yesterday’s Thurles undertaking?
The two videos, shown immediately hereunder, should assist, greatly, in granting an understanding into the importance of yesterday’s Thurles project.
So what can we expect to see here in just 2 years from now?
Congratulations to all those responsible for yesterday’s undertaking, which, sadly, saw no elected politicians making themselves available to turn sods; however, in mitigation I suppose it wasn’t an election year and the trees were too small to allow the holding up of election posters, using tech screws.
The “Sweet White Violets”(Latin Name: Viola odorata alba), which is expected to appear in late winter or early Spring, arrived exactly on time this year, exhibiting a massive crop of blossoms.
Sweet White Violets pictured here with emerging wild Primroses. Pic: G. Willoughby.
This small hardy herbaceous perennial is also commonly known as ‘Wood Violet‘; ‘English Violet‘; ‘Common Violet‘; ‘Florist’s Violet‘ and ‘Garden Violet’.
Sweet White Violets: The flowers which are either dark violet or white in colour, are scented, with the species most often found near the edges of forests or in shaded clearings; it is also a common “uninvited guest” found on shaded lawns or elsewhere with in Irish gardens.
Both the leaves and flowers are edible and in the late Victorian period, were used in the production of cosmetic fragrances and perfumes and in the production of medicine. Interesting to note: The scent somehow has suggested sex, so the violet served as a symbol of a favoured flower of Aphrodite, (latter ancient Greek goddess of sexual love and beauty); and her son, Priapus, (latter a minor fertility god in Greek mythology), who was also the protector of livestock, fruit plants and, yes male readers should note, male genitals. Both the former named Greek goddess and minor god were the deity of gardens.
A Bunch Of Violets Blue.
Lyrics: Attributed to composer, writer John McCormick. Vocals: Irish country, traditional and easy listening singer, guitarist and saxophone player, the late Tom McBride, (Big Tom 1936–2018).
A Bunch Of Violets Blue.
It was out in a moonlit garden, Not far from the ballroom grand, A soldier and his sweetheart, Went strolling hand in hand. Tomorrow the war would call him, And he vowed he would be true, And from her breast she gave to him, A bunch of violets blue. They were only a bunch of violets, A bunch of violets blue, Fresh and fair and dainty, All sparkle like the dew. Fresh and fair and dainty, As he pressed them to his heart, He smiled and said where’er he’d roam, From them he’d n’er would part. A soldier boy lay dying, Upon the cold, cold ground. A bunch of withered violets, Upon his breast was found. Turning to his comrades, In a feeble voice he sighed. Take them back and tell her that, I wore them till I died. They took the withered violets back, It been on her wedding day. An old man’s gold had won her, From her soldier far away. An old man’s gold had won her, From her soldier young and tall, And this is what he said to her, One evening at the ball. They were only a bunch of violets, A bunch of violets blue, Fresh and fair and dainty, All sparkle like the dew. Fresh and fair and dainty, As he pressed them to his heart, He smiled and said where’er he’d roam, From them he’d n’er would part.
Delayed Planting Of 2,500 Tree In Thurles Now Scheduled For Friday March 21st.
The 100 Million Tree’s Initiative is to plant a 2,500 tree urban forest at Mill Road, south-east of Thurles Town, is now set to take place on Friday March 21st next, at 10:30am.
The planting is set to be undertaken on a strip of land purchased by taxpayers and currently in the care of Tipperary Co. Council, on land on the west side of the Mill Road in the townland of Monakeeba.
See Area Map hereunder. [Eircode E41 NP02].
The event was due to take place initially on Monday January 27th, 2025, however same was cancelled due to weather and ground conditions; the area being part of the flood plain of the River Suir.
100 Million Trees Project:
The 100 Million Trees Project is a national Not-for-Profit initiative being run by siblings, Richard, David and Tina Mulcahy.
The project aims to see the planting of 100 million native Irish trees across the island of Ireland over the next decade, as a community-driven initiative to reverse the immense environmental damage caused by the reduction of forests worldwide and the loss of huge areas of biodiversity.
The project’s ambitious aim will be achieved through densely planting between 500 and 2,500 native Irish trees at a time across small areas of land using ‘The Miyawaki method’. Named after the late Japanese Botanist, Professor Akira Miyawaki (1928-2021), who developed the technique in the 1970s as a means to restore degraded land, the Miyawaki Method of over-planting trees, has been successful in creating over 1,700 forests worldwide.
Thurles public are invited to attend, with schools; local residents associations and Refresh Thurles (Tidy Towns) being invited to volunteer to aid with the planting; with sponsor Allied Irish Bank (AIB) in attendance to record the event for their website.
By planting excess trees together, same grow 10 times faster; 30 times denser; create an area 100 times more biodiverse, and most importantly create a very rapid carbon sink. This inexpensive approach requires significantly smaller planting areas and can be carried out on unused or fallow land across Ireland. Dense areas of afforestation can also actually play a role in reducing the impact of forest fires, while at the same time provide excellent areas of biodiversity.
In 2022-2023 – 20,600 Irish native trees were planted in 6 counties on the island of Ireland. In 2023-2024 – a further 201,750 Irish native trees were planted in 19 counties. In 2024-2025 the target is to plant a further 550,000 trees in 28 counties.
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